The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1887-07-09


moonlit waters OF the haunted spring.
With q strange, bewildered feeling, I
turned TO the house, but all within
was still and dark as death. No lights
were TO be seen. Great clouds. like
ships az sea, were sailing through the
heavens, now and then yelling the
face of the moon and leaving all be-
low in darkness. Then, as they passed
away. the moon shone out with that
peculiar white light. giving 10 all
objects strange, ghostly appearance,
with great dark shadows trailing be-
hind. Determined TO investigate this
strange mystery, ! crossed the road
and stepped upon the old porch. The
first creaking sound made by my feet
on the weather worn boards caused
my heart 10 give great bound. AS
the moon was again for few PIGMENTS
obscured. i waited for her friendly
light to guide me through that lonely
house. With her first bright beams I
passed boldly through the swinging.
creakilg door, and one by one l went
through al. the lonely, long deserted
rooms. Must, mildew and cobwels
met one az every turn. Broken china,
the wreck Of . stove. long bar, with
bottles ahd glasses, in scattered con-
\ fusion, lay all about. Evidently the
place had been hastily deserted long
years before. Passing up a flight of
stairs, found myself confronted by a
door which would not yield TO any
pressure ! could bring to bear. But,
as had several keys about me, had
no difficulty in unlocking IL. As IL
swung back on its rusty hinges, the
first thing that attracted my gaze was
a large curtainless window. through
which the moonlight shone in great
white sheet, disclosing, TO my amaze
ment, an elegantly furnished parlor.
There were easy chairs and lounges,
elegant mirrors and marble topped
tables. upon which were books and
papers. In one corner WAS low
rocker, with dainty work basket be-
side it, half filled with bright colore
woods. A tiny gold thimble lay among
the bright cclors. Beside the chair
was an assortment of sheet music and
guitar with strings all broken. On
little stand near by was an empty
bird cage. AS / moved IL slightly
with my hand breath of wind, com
ing from the window, caught tiny
bunch Of golden feathers which lay in
the bottom and scattered them about
my feet. To my left was coy bed
chamber, furnished with all the dainty
articles belonging TO woman of
taste and refinement Beside the bed
were pair OF small French slippers;
across the tops spider was spinning
a iilmy silver thread; womans wrap
per WAS thrown carelessly across the
foot of the bed; soft white lace WIS
around the neck, and one empty, lace
trimmed sleeve hung down in desc
late, dreary way. From little stand
beside the bed j picked MP jewel
case. On raising the lid the CLEAN OF
diamond -shone out like the eye OF a
demon. In my nervousness IL slipped
from the case, and, rolling away, was
lost in che dust and darkness. There
were several other trinkets; locket
among the rest. 'Openingit carefully,
two faces, widely different, turned
smilingly to greet me. A strange feel
ing passed over me, like a chill. |
had seen the faces before. Aye, this
very locket, or its exact counterpart
had seen in that other locket this
same woman's face. crowned by its
wreath OF golden hair; the same baby
blue eyes, the weak chin and the
cruel mouth. And all that other
face, set ina wreath of black curls,
cut close TO the head; its dark eyes,
cold and fascinating; the teeth even
and white as pearls, over which the
crimson lips closed like "A vice. II
was i who closed those lips for the
last time, and, with touch as tender
as his own mothers, did | close the
white lids over the CLASSY eyes.
Slowly the scene about me changed.
Once more stood In the DE Ha Saloon
at Aurora the Aurora of twenty
years ago, not the dead and buried
Aurora OF to-day. The saloon was
full OF men for this WAS pay day-and
gambling ran high. More than one
poor dexh had bet his last dollar on
the losing card. and had gone out
merrily mhistllng "Pat Malloy." /
n had placed my last checks between
the queen and the deuce, rs also did
my right hand player--the man whose
face looked out ut me from this little
locket-was the dark eyed man who
had been playing and losing heavily
all night. Sneep, sneep went the cards,
as they were drawn from the box.
a Thump, thamp, went my heart. i was